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en-usLatest news from University College LondonThe world's rarest skeleton stands on four legs once againUsing cutting-edge technology, the world's rarest skeleton – a South African extinct zebra called a quagga – has regained its missing hind limb.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-world-rarest-skeleton-legs.html
Archaeology & Fossils Tue, 28 Jul 2015 10:10:01 EDTnews357294498Cool summer of 2013 boosted Arctic sea iceThe volume of Arctic sea ice increased by a third after the summer of 2013 as the unusually cool air temperatures prevented the ice from melting, according to UCL and University of Leeds scientists. This suggests that the ice pack in the Northern hemisphere is more sensitive to changes in summer melting than it is to winter cooling, a finding which will help researchers to predict future changes in its volume.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-cool-summer-boosted-arctic-sea.html
Earth Sciences Mon, 20 Jul 2015 11:00:03 EDTnews356603873Improving treatment for systemic amyloidosisA potential new approach to treat systemic amyloidosis, invented at UCL and being developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), marks the start of a successful and innovative academic-industry collaboration.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-07-treatment-amyloidosis.html
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 16 Jul 2015 08:40:05 EDTnews356253635Landmark 69-year study to provide window into dementiaA landmark study that has been following a group of people since their birth in the same week in March 1946 is now turning its focus to the risk factors and early signs of dementia.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-07-landmark-year-window-dementia.html
Alzheimer's disease & dementia Tue, 14 Jul 2015 09:10:06 EDTnews356082814Revealed: Positronium's behavior in particle billiardsCollision physics can be like a game of billiards. Yet in the microscopic world, the outcome of the game is hard to predict. Fire a particle at a group of other particles, and they may scatter, combine or break apart, according to probability distributions governed by quantum mechanics. These processes can tell us about fundamental properties of matter and, if antimatter projectiles are used, also about matter-antimatter interactions.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-revealed-positronium-behavior-particle-billiards.html
General Physics Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:39:20 EDTnews355401541Stronger action needed to transform the UK's energy systemAn ambitious policy package is essential for the UK to transform its energy system to achieve the deep reductions in carbon emissions required to avoid dangerous climate change, according to research led by UCL scientists. To meet climate targets set for 2050, policies need to ensure strong action is taken now, while preparing for fundamental changes in how energy is provided and used in the long term.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-stronger-action-uk-energy.html
Environment Mon, 06 Jul 2015 02:53:48 EDTnews355370016Commonly prescribed drugs affect decisions to harm oneself and othersHealthy people given the serotonin-enhancing antidepressant citalopram were willing to pay almost twice as much to prevent harm to themselves or others than those given placebo drugs in a moral decision-making experiment at UCL. In contrast, the dopamine-boosting Parkinson's drug levodopa made healthy people more selfish, eliminating an altruistic tendency to prefer harming themselves over others. The study was a double-blind randomised controlled trial and the results are published in Current Biology.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-07-commonly-drugs-affect-decisions-oneself.html
Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:00:07 EDTnews355051797Mapping the people of ScotlandResearchers at UCL have mapped the people of Scotland in unprecedented detail.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-people-scotland.html
Social Sciences Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:20:03 EDTnews355046034Research reveals how the human brain might reconstruct past eventsWhen remembering something from our past, we often vividly re-experience the whole episode in which it occurred. New UCL research funded by the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust has now revealed how this might happen in the brain.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-07-reveals-human-brain-reconstruct-events.html
Neuroscience Thu, 02 Jul 2015 05:00:01 EDTnews354997167Rats 'dream' paths to a brighter futureWhen rats rest, their brains simulate journeys to a desired future such as a tasty treat, finds new UCL research.http://phys.org/news/2015-06-rats-paths-brighter-future.html
Plants & Animals Fri, 26 Jun 2015 03:32:56 EDTnews354508364Cancer drug makes fruit flies live longerAdult fruit flies given a cancer drug live 12% longer than average, according to a UCL-led study researching healthy ageing. The drug targets a specific cellular process that occurs in animals, including humans, delaying the onset of age-related deaths by slowing the ageing process.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-06-cancer-drug-fruit-flies-longer.html
Medical research Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:00:07 EDTnews354436708New class of compounds shrinks pancreatic cancer tumours and prevents regrowthScientists from UCL (University College London) have designed a chemical compound that has reduced the growth of pancreatic cancer tumours by 80 percent in treated mice.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-06-class-compounds-pancreatic-cancer-tumours.html
Cancer Thu, 25 Jun 2015 11:47:48 EDTnews354451660Single gene controls fish brain size and intelligenceA single gene called Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) drives brain size and intelligence in fish according to a new study by researchers at UCL, Stockholm University and University of Helsinki.http://phys.org/news/2015-06-gene-fish-brain-size-intelligence.html
Evolution Tue, 23 Jun 2015 19:00:02 EDTnews354291908Titan's atmosphere even more Earth-like than previously thoughtScientists at UCL have observed how a widespread polar wind is driving gas from the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. The team analysed data gathered over seven years by the international Cassini probe, and found that the interactions between Titan's atmosphere, and the solar magnetic field and radiation, create a wind of hydrocarbons and nitriles being blown away from its polar regions into space. This is very similar to the wind observed coming from the Earth's polar regions.http://phys.org/news/2015-06-titan-atmosphere-earth-like-previously-thought.html
Space Exploration Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:48:18 EDTnews353843290New calculations to improve CO2 monitoring from spaceHow light of different colours is absorbed by carbon dioxide (CO2) can now be accurately predicted using new calculations developed by a UCL-led team of scientists. This will help climate scientists studying Earth's greenhouse gas emissions to better interpret data collected from satellites and ground stations measuring CO2.http://phys.org/news/2015-06-co2-space.html
Environment Mon, 15 Jun 2015 00:10:03 EDTnews353508856SMILE space mission passes first hurdleA space mission called SMILE (Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) which is jointly led by UCL and the Chinese National Space Science Center has received the go-ahead for an initial study phase this summer by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).http://phys.org/news/2015-06-space-mission-hurdle.html
Space Exploration Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:20:01 EDTnews352625971A molecule important in blood vessel formation, brain wiring is also essential for onset of pubertyA molecule important in blood vessel formation and brain wiring is also essential for the onset of puberty, finds new research led by UCL and the University of Milan.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-05-molecule-important-blood-vessel-formation.html
Genetics Mon, 18 May 2015 16:00:01 EDTnews351169858Unique social structure of hunter-gatherers explainedSex equality in residential decision-making explains the unique social structure of hunter-gatherers, a new UCL study reveals.http://phys.org/news/2015-05-unique-social-hunter-gatherers.html
Social Sciences Thu, 14 May 2015 14:00:02 EDTnews350822785Smoking induces early signs of cancer in cheek swabsDNA damage caused by smoking can be detected in cheek swabs, finds research published today in JAMA Oncology. The study provides evidence that smoking induces a general cancer program that is also present in cancers which aren't usually associated with it - including breast and gynaecological cancers.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-05-early-cancer-cheek-swabs.html
Cancer Thu, 14 May 2015 11:00:02 EDTnews350819498New test could identify resistant tuberculosis fasterThe time needed to genetically sequence the bacteria causing tuberculosis (Mtb) from patient samples has been reduced from weeks to days using a new technique developed by a UCL-led team. This could help health service providers to better treat disease, control transmission of this infection, and monitor outbreaks.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-05-resistant-tuberculosis-faster.html
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 13 May 2015 03:48:33 EDTnews350707704Starved T cells allow hepatitis B to silently infect liverHepatitis B stimulates processes that deprive the body's immune cells of key nutrients that they need to function, finds new UCL-led research funded by the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-05-starved-cells-hepatitis-silently-infect.html
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 11 May 2015 11:00:07 EDTnews350560714New screening technique could pick up twice as many women with ovarian cancerA new screening method can detect twice as many women with ovarian cancer as conventional strategies, according to the latest results from the largest trial of its kind led by UCL.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-05-screening-technique-women-ovarian-cancer.html
Cancer Mon, 04 May 2015 16:33:42 EDTnews349976012Tracking exploding lithium-ion batteries in real-time (w/ Video)What happens when lithium-ion batteries overheat and explode has been tracked inside and out for the first time by a UCL-led team using sophisticated 3D imaging.http://phys.org/news/2015-04-tracking-lithium-ion-batteries-real-time-video.html
General Physics Tue, 28 Apr 2015 11:00:07 EDTnews349434114Chemistry of seabed's hot vents could explain emergence of lifeHot vents on the seabed could have spontaneously produced the organic molecules necessary for life, according to new research by UCL chemists. The study shows how the surfaces of mineral particles inside hydrothermal vents have similar chemical properties to enzymes, the biological molecules that govern chemical reactions in living organisms. This means that vents are able to create simple carbon-based molecules, such as methanol and formic acid, out of the dissolved CO2 in the water.http://phys.org/news/2015-04-chemistry-seabed-hot-vents-emergence.html
Materials Science Mon, 27 Apr 2015 10:44:22 EDTnews349350253Connecting places causes mental maps to mergeRealising how places connect geographically causes local maps in the brain to join, forming one big map which helps with planning future journeys, finds a new UCL study.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-04-mental-merge.html
Neuroscience Thu, 23 Apr 2015 12:00:05 EDTnews349007344Emotional problems in schoolgirls rose dramatically over past five yearsEmotional problems in girls aged 11-13 in England increased by 55% between 2009 and 2014, finds new research from UCL and the Anna Freud Centre. On average, this means that a mixed classroom of 30 children today is likely to contain one more girl with emotional difficulties than a comparable class 5 years ago.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-04-emotional-problems-schoolgirls-rose-years.html
Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 20 Apr 2015 08:20:02 EDTnews348735958Mummified bodies from 18th century Europe found to have multiple tuberculosis infectionsBodies found in a 200 year-old Hungarian crypt have revealed the secrets of how tuberculosis (TB) took hold in 18th century Europe, according to a research team involving UCL scientists.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-04-mummified-bodies-18th-century-europe.html
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 20 Apr 2015 08:05:34 EDTnews348735925Men donate competitively on women's fundraising webpagesMen give more money through fundraising websites after seeing that other men have donated large amounts and when the fundraiser is an attractive woman, according to new UCL and University of Bristol research.http://phys.org/news/2015-04-men-donate-competitively-women-fundraising.html
Social Sciences Thu, 16 Apr 2015 12:30:04 EDTnews348397335Human immune system can control re-awakened HIV, suggesting 'kick and kill' cure is possibleThe human immune system can handle large bursts of HIV activity and so it should be possible to cure HIV with a 'kick and kill' strategy, finds new research led by UCL, the University of Oxford and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-04-human-immune-re-awakened-hiv.html
HIV & AIDS Mon, 13 Apr 2015 09:40:06 EDTnews348135484New test measures deadly protein in Huntington's disease patients' spinal fluidA new test has been able to measure for the first time the build-up of a harmful mutant protein in the nervous system of patients during the progression of Huntington's disease (HD). Published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the research team behind the findings hope that the new assay will enable the testing of drugs that aim to lower the production of the pathogenic mutant huntingtin protein that causes the disease, and could be useful in predicting or monitoring the progression of HD.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-04-deadly-protein-huntington-disease-patients.html
Neuroscience Mon, 06 Apr 2015 16:00:01 EDTnews347538241